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The investment of Kingswood Golf Operations (KGO) in the acquisition of 30 brand-new golf carts did much to lighten the mood of those estate management members grappling with the aftermath of the 22 November flood.
Similarly stoked over this super-mobile addition should be the multitude of lucky Kingswood club members and their guests, who will now whizz across the course in even grander style than ever before.
Offload lowdown
When The BUZZard swooped down on Kingswood Golf Estate (KGE) around 9am on Friday 3 December, we were met by the rare and ravishing sight of 30 brand-new Mobi G golf carts in the process of being offloaded from their heavyduty trailers.
Mobi G COO Stephan Theron had just spent most of the preceding 48 hours behind the heavy-duty wheel, carting the carts from their far away home Middelburg, Mpumalanga.
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After a welcome overnight stop in Beaufort West, Stephan delivered Kingswood’s fleet of uber-agile course runners into the hands of KGO owners Mike Quinn and Liesel Niehaus.
Says Mike: ‘The estate’s existing golf carts have served us well up to now, but these models are a bridge apart – an added bonus being that they are built in South Africa and can be serviced right here in George.’
Fixer in the mix
Golf Guys GM Sean Farrell (sean@golfguys.co.za) was on hand as representative of an unofficial cart-welcoming party, and used the opportunity to meet Stephan in the flesh after extensive long-distance comms leading up to the Mobi G fleet’s delivery in the Southern Cape capital.
Sean reiterated the fact that his company was ready and able to assist with any enquiries or service requirements, while reminding everyone of the fact that Golf Guys are Mobi G-accredited agents for the entire Western Cape Province.
‘Whereas the golf carts used at Kingswood up to now have been totally adequate, there is no comparison to the access and speed with which proudly South African Mobi G carts can be assessed and serviced,’ he said.
‘Not only do they boast an array of modern features and performance abilities, but these carts are also a helluvalot cooler than any others available on the market today.’
Golf interrupted
Kingswood greenkeeper Ivan van Heerden was upbeat about the general state of the golf course when chatting to The BUZZard on 9 December, saying that his team had done everything in their power to prepare tees, greens and fairways in time for the festive season.
‘Notwithstanding the flood damage, the last of which is now being remedied, everything is in tip top shape for our residents and summer visitors to enjoy the Kingswood course. Final finishing touches, such as a fence along the 13th fairway, are being effected as we speak.
‘Damage to the course may have impacted on, say, three days’ worth of bookings during late November, but that’s negligible compared to the devastating impact of flood damage on the greater George area.’
Ivan said that the local engineering firm had assessed damage to two bridges along the course, in order to inform decisions pertaining to corrective or constructional actions in the near-future pipeline.
But other than those, the course came off lightly and all golf operations are raring to go.
Ten out of 10 for seasonal events
Day two of the George 10s golf leg took place at Kingswood on 2 December, the successful KGE event forming part of a three-day sports feast that also played out at Oubaai and George Country Club, with 10s rugby games taking place at Outeniqua Park Stadium in George CBD.
These seasonal events should now be diarised, and please note that the course will be closed on Christmas Day, Saturday 25 December.
- Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 December – US Kids Garden Route Local Tour
- Friday 14 January – Mercedes-Benz Sundowner
- Thursday 20 January – ETA College Golf Day
- Saturday 22 January – Kingswood Senior Open
- Thursday 27 January – Mercedes-Benz 9-hole After Work Golf Cup
- Thursday 3 February – Laerskool George-Suid Golf Day
Be festive sans fireworks
Point 9.2 of the KGE constitution (as revised in February of this year) strictly forbids the lighting of fireworks anywhere on the estate. In a statement issued on 6 December, George Municipality echoes this sentiment:
‘Due to its associated fire risks, the private use of fireworks, pyrotechnics and crackers is not allowed anywhere in the George Municipal Area at any time. Trading in fireworks is also illegal, and apart from being confiscated, fines may apply.’
Please report the illegal setting off or trading of fireworks to 044 801 6350, or to 044 801 6300 after hours.
General fire emergencies should be reported to 044 801 6311. But Kingswood residents should take note that spotting a legendary cricketer on the course this month does not constitute an emergency …
However hot his sporting legacy may be, spotting Proteas and IPL cricket legend AB de Villiers (one of the five primary shareholders of Mobi G) on the Kingswood course this season won’t justify alerting either George emergency services or the ever-hungry local media. Be cool. As cool as AB’s Mobi G golf carts.
